Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to reveal Team India's squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which is set to start from February 19. While six teams have already announced their respective squads, India and Pakistan are the only sides who haven't named their squads for Champions Trophy. As the Indian selectors and team management will gather in a BCCI meeting to take a final call on India's squad, the selection of two wicketkeepers will likely be a key point of discussion.
KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson fighting for wicketkeeper slots in India's Champions Trophy squad
KL Rahul has been India's established wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, but strong contenders like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are vying for the two spots. Ishan Kishan, despite his impressive ODI double century, is expected to miss out due to a modest performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Dhruv Jurel, considered a potential backup for Sanju Samson in the upcoming T20I series against England, could also be in contention.
KL Rahul had established himself as the preferred wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs during Rishabh Pant's absence from international cricket. His strong performances in 2023, including 1,060 runs in 27 ODIs with seven fifties and two centuries, strengthened his spot. Notably, he also scored a century in the ODI World Cup and was also team's key performer in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
However, a hamstring injury last year raised concerns about Rahul's long-term fitness for the demanding role of wicketkeeper. This concern was further amplified by Pant's inclusion in the playing XI for India's last ODI against Sri Lanka in August. Despite this setback, Rahul's impressive performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the preceding year may still give him an edge in the selection process. Alternatively, he could be included in the squad purely as a middle-order batting option, with Pant potentially being the preferred choice for the wicketkeeping role.
Rishabh Pant's strong case
Pant is widely considered the frontrunner for one of the wicketkeeper spots in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While KL Rahul boasts a higher average (49.15) with 2,851 runs in 72 innings, Pant's left-handed batting offers valuable variety to the middle order. Pant, despite not consistently dominating in limited-overs cricket, has shown glimpses of brilliance. His 2022 performance, including a maiden ODI century against England, highlighted his potential. Notably, Pant's aggressive style, evident in his 59.7% boundary percentage and 107.5 strike rate, sets him apart from Rahul's more measured approach. However, his inconsistency in delivering match-winning performances in shorter formats remains a concern.
While Pant was preferred in the final ODI against Sri Lanka after Rahul's subdued performances in the earlier matches, his overall ODI record (871 runs at an average of 33.50) lags behind Rahul's. Ultimately, the selectors will need to carefully weigh the strengths and weaknesses of both players, considering their recent form, potential impact, and the team's overall balance, to make the final decision.
Talking about Sanju Samson, a strong contender for a spot in the ODI squad, last played an ODI in December 2023 against South Africa, scoring a century. With an impressive average of 56.66 in 14 innings, Samson is a valuable asset. Although he excels in T20Is, his absence from the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy might hinder his selection for the ODI squad. Kishan, despite his impressive ODI record, including a double century, has seen his standing diminish slightly after skipping domestic cricket last year, which resulted in the loss of his BCCI annual central contract. His recent modest performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy further impacted his selection prospects.
Young Rajasthan Royals player Dhruv Jurel has caught the selectors' attention, particularly after his inclusion in the T20I squad for the England series as Sanju Samson's backup. Jurel's impressive performance and his T20I debut in Zimbabwe indicate the selection committee's intent to nurture his talent in white-ball cricket.
Looking ahead, Pant and Jurel are likely to emerge as India's primary wicketkeeping options in Tests and ODIs. Samson appears to be best suited for the T20I format, given his recent success in the latter half of 2024. With only three ODIs remaining before the Champions Trophy, the selectors will certainly have a sweet headache to come out with the two names for coveted wicketkeeper slots.